Current incidence of acute neurologic complications after open-heart operations in children

Background. Previously, neurologic dysfunction was estimated to complicate 25% or less of pediatric open-heart operations. We sought to determine the current incidence and spectrum of early postoperative neurologic complications. Methods. We undertook a retrospective review of all patients undergoing open heart operations in 1 year at our institution with the goal to identify all neurologic complications occurring in the early postoperative period. Results. Open-heart operations were performed in 706 children. Sixteen children (2.3%) had neurologic complications develop, including 9 (1.3%) with definite clinical seizures, 1 with suspected seizures and bilateral subdural hemorrhage, 2 with coma after cardiac arrest, 2 with transient mild choreoathetosis, 1 with facial palsy, and 1 with persistent irritability. Causes of seizure were cyclosporin A toxicity posttransplant (4), cerebral ischemia post cardiac arrest (3), and unknown (2). In infants less than 1 year of age, the incidence of seizures was 1.2%. Conclusions. This review suggests a decrease in acute neurologic morbidity after pediatric open heart operation. Clinical seizures remain the most common complication. Posttransplant, cyclosporin-associated seizures have emerged as an important etiologic category, coincident with an increase in cardiac transplantation in children.